Henry b



(No Model.)

H. B. MORRIS.

MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Patented DCC. 12, 1882.

N. PETERS. Pham-Lumgnpw. wumngwr D. c,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY B. MORRIS, F ITHACA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T() THE AUTOPHONE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

MECHANICAL MUSICAL lNSTRUM ENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 268,925, dated December 12, 1882. .Application tiled February 13, 1882. (No model.)

To atl whom it may concern Beit known thatI, HENRY B. MoER1s,a citizen of the United States, residing at Ithaca, in the county of Tompkins and State of New 5 York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Musical Instruments; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such' as will enable others skilled in ro the art to which it appertains to made and use the same.

This invention relates to that class of automatic wind instruments Which produce musical sounds through the agency of a perforated y music-sheet or valve-sheet.

The object of the invention is to utilize the pneumatic pressure obtained from the reservoir-bellows of the instrument to, keep the valve-sheet tightly pressed against the orifices 2o leading to the pipes or reeds; and to this end the invention consists in securinga movable presser-bar in such relation to the reed or pipe apertures, or the ducts leading thereto, by means of flexible connections that it will press 2 5 the valve-sheet closely against such ducts or apertures when the instrument is in operation, guide-pins beingprovided to steady the presserbar in its movements.

In order that my vinvention may be under- 3o stood and practiced by those skilled in the art,

I will proceed to describe the same in connection with the accompanyin gdrawin g, which represents a side elevation, partly in section, of an automatic wind instrument embodying my improvements.

Mounted in the lower part of the frame A ofthe instrument is the supply-bellows B, the top board, b, ofwhich extends the entirelength and width of the frame, and is rigidly secured 4o thereto. The board b is provided near onel end with an exit-port, b', leading into an airpassage, C, which conducts the air to the inlet-portelof the reservoir-bellows D. The top board ot' this reservoir-bellows D is permanently fixed to the top A' of the instrument; but the bottom board is movable vertically, and interposed between this movable bottom and the rigid top b of the bellows B are suitable stout springs D', which tend to force the 5o bottom board of bellows D upward, thus forcing the air from said bellows through the exitport d' thereof'. The usual valve is interposed between the supply-bellows B and the reservoir-bellows D.

Rigidly supported above the top board, A', of the frame, and extending across the instrument, is a bar, E, provided with vertical holes e, leading` to the pipes or reeds F, placed above said bar. I prefer to face the lower rounded side of this bar E with metal.

The valve-sheet G is wound upon and operated by the rollers H H', mounted above the top ofthe instrument-onein front and onein rear of the pipes or reeds F, as shownand passes about midway between the rolls beneath the bar E. Between the top A' of the instrument and the bar E, and parallel with said bar, is mounted a presser-bar, I, provided with vertical holes i, arranged to register with the vertical holes e in the barE. This presserbar is connected to the top A' ofthe instrument by means cfa strip, I', of leather, rubber, or other suitable fiexible material, in such a manner as to admit ot' a slight vertical movement ot' said bar; and to steady the bar in its 75 movement I provide-guide pins i', which project above the top A ot' the instrument and enter sockets in the under side of the presser-bar I. When the instrument is at rest the presser-bar falls toward the top A', thus leaving a space between said bar and the bar E for the insertion ot' the valve-sheet; but upon the development of a pneumatic pressure by working the bellows B the presserbar will rise and press the valve-sheet close against the bottom of bar E, thereby preventing any improper escape of air. When the bellows has ceased to operate the diminution ot' pneumatic pressure permits the presserbar to fall toits lowest position for the insertion of another valve-sheet.

The shaft of roll H is provided at one end with a crank, h, for operating it, and fixed to its other end is a crank, h', for operating the bellows B through the agency ot' a pitman, h2. 9'

As the operation of this class otinstruments in producing harmonies through the agency of a valvesheet is well understood, I do not deem it necessary te describe the same herein.

Having thus described my invention, what roo I claim is- 1. The combination, substantially as before set forth, ofa Wind-chest of un automatic wind instrument,and a. perforated presser-bar ilexibly connected therewith and operated by pneumatic pressure from the bellows ofsuid instrument..

2. The combination, with a wind-chestof a musical instrument, substantially as before set forth, of the presser-hor, the guide-pins, and the flexible connecting-strip.

3. The combination, with :L wind-'chest of u musical instrument, substantially as before set t'orth1 of the presser-bar, the guide-pins, the exible connecting-strip, the bnr E, and the vulve-sheet.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in i5 presence of two witnesses.

HENRY B. MORRS. \,Vitnesses:

ABEL BUumTr, P. G. ELLswoR'rH. 

